Missing Brooklyn Park girl is found safe and children are removed from home

Police say the mother of the children is not cooperating with investigators.

Police are investigating after an 11-year-old girl who went missing in Brooklyn Park was found by neighbors outside a clinic in Bloomington, more than 20 miles away, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Now, police believe that the home where the child, Tanaisha Tennin, lived with her mother may have been unsafe.

Marilyn Harris, the neighbor who found Tanaisha, said she saw the child while at the clinic, where her husband had an appointment.

“We were in Bloomington at a clinic. This child is sitting in front of the clinic, I guess she recognized us because we do live there, and she said ‘Can you give me a ride to Brooklyn Park?’ I looked and said your mom is missing you.”

By Edgar Linares

Marilyn Harris speaks to reporters.

Brooklyn Park Police officers were dispatched to the home at 8205 Queen Avenue North, after getting a call from Tanaisha’s mother at 3 a.m. Monday morning, authorities said. According to Brooklyn Park Police, she told officers that her daughter had run away, something she’s done in the past

“The officers who arrived on scene located a mother who was clearly in need of medical attention and was taken to the hospital,” said Brooklyn Park Police Deputy Chief, Mark Bruley. “They made entry into the house and located concerning conditions, not fit for children to be living in. So they removed the children from that home.”

Bruley says at least three children were removed from the house after officers found it infested with rodents and insects. Neighbors say they’re not surprised to hear the conditions of the home and say seeing a squad car in front of the house has become a common occurrence.

“I know I’ve seen her run away before, she ran screaming down the road one time, this is the third time we’ve had police her in the last month,” said Emily Fernett who lives across the street. “It’s been a troubled house for years, years and years.”

This is the same home where an 8-year-old boy was found dead last February. Bruley says that case is still under criminal investigation and no arrests have been made.

Police say the mother of the children is not cooperating with investigators.